'I know what your gonna say so don't say it.' Laura eyed Jules warily as she sat down at the table.

'These people Laura, they are trying to wear you down. Make you think it's not a big deal but it is and you know that right?' Jules face betrayed every emotion she was feeling right now. She was furious at what had happened and couldn't hide it.

Laura nodded wearily. Everyone wanted to say their piece, everyone wanted to offload to her. When the hell could she actually get some peace to think? She needed to get away and have some silence. But where to go and what about Charlie? Should she just leave with him? Could she just leave? He had school she couldn't upset his routine. She realised that quickly.

'Pete has gone to see him.'

'Hmmm what sorry I was miles away.'

Jules humphed and spoke again. 'I said Laura that Pete has gone to see Jake. Apparently he spoke to Anna and she invited him over.'

'Right thats nice I guess.'

'You guess? Seriously Laura what the fuck?'

Jules jumped up and came across to the lounger perching on the edge as she reached over to Laura pulling her hands towards her. 'I want to bloody shake you. What did she say to you? Why have you changed? I wont let you go back to him, you need to make him pay.'

Laura dragged her eyes away from the garden gazing at Jules worried face. She knew that Jules was only looking out for her but even so.

'Jules whatever happens will be my decision. I cant think about my marriage right now I'm still digesting what has happened. But listening to Anna well I cant deny it, its made me think.' Laura watched as her friends disgusted face looked away. She clasped Jules hands as she spoke again.

'I'm making no rash decisions. What he did was beyond getting any sort of forgiveness from me. What they both did actually. But, hearing what she said has made me realise it's not just about me is it? There's Charlie and this one in here. The situation is bigger than all of us.' She nodded to her belly as she finished speaking. Taking a deep breath before she spoke again.

'I'm sad Jules, I'm sad that my perfect life or what I thought was a perfect life has gone to shit. I'm sad that my baby is going to be born into this dysfunctional family. I've been thinking I need to get away for a few days. Get some distance between everything and everyone. Maybe I can clear this fog if I'm on my own.'

'Whaaat where will you go?'

'No idea I just know I need to be on my own. I think maybe I will get Ellie and Charlie checked into the hotel for a few days.'

'No Laura, this is crazy you are weeks away from having the baby you just cant go waltzing off.'

Laura laughed softly, sadly. 'The last thing I can do is waltz anywhere look at the size of me I just need space. You can understand that cant you?'

Jules shook her head. 'I don't understand anything right now. The last 24 hours have been insane. Let them stay here where I can keep my eye on them, at least if Charlie is here I know you'll be back. I'll get the laptop lets see if they have anywhere for pregnant women who've run out on their husband rentals available.' Jules stood up and headed indoors her face a mass of emotions but saying no more.

Laura yawned and closed her eyes. 'Great friend you are jus gonna nap for five minutes while you sort that out.'

Pete was let into the house by a smiling Anna and she took his arm as she led him to Jakes study. 'Now he'll be a bear just ignore it. I will make some tea.'

Pete smiled at Anna. 'Don't worry about tea I brought this.' He held up a bottle of whiskey as he knocked on the door and pushed it open. 'Jake okay if I come in?'

Jake opened his eyes struggling to focus as someone called him. He sat up rubbing them as Pete stepped into the room.

'I thought I would check on you how you doing?'

'How'd you think?'

'You look like shit so Im going to say not good. If it's any consolation she is not good either.'

'It's not, it's my fault we are in this situation. I, well I don't know what to do to be honest.'

'I thought as much hence bringing this.' Pete held up the bottle. 'I always find some lubrication like this does wonders for the brain.'

Jake tried to smile but failed miserably. He ran a hand over his chin feeling the stubble scratch his fingers.

'You look like shit Jake. Why don't you take a shower whilst I pour and I'll see if your Mum will rustle us up something to eat.'

Jake stood up his teeshirt crumpled from sleeping in it, his hair unruly from the many times he had run his fingers through it. 'Okay sounds good I'm hungry actually.' He headed towards the door and stopped turning to Pete. 'Thanks Pete I know Laura is your friend and I didn't expect any of you to be kind Lord knows I don't deserve it.'

'Jake we all make mistakes its how we sort them out that defines us. Now go shave you look like George Michael on a really bad stubble day and that is not meant as a compliment.'

An hour later they were sat opposite each other. Two pizza boxes lay opened between them as they ate in silence. Anna failing miserably in being able to provide a decent meal. The whiskey bottle was open and two tumblers were being drunk.

Pete laid his head back on the sofa. 'I'm stuffed. Never get to eat this at home. Jules'd go crazy if she knew I was eating this.'

'I think your secret is safe with me I don't think I'll be talking to her anytime soon. I was pretty good at keeping secrets.' He gave an empty laugh as he glanced into his glass sluicing the whiskey around.

Pete nodded. 'So did you want to talk about it or not? I'm good either way. Getting to drink whiskey and eat pizza is actually a good night for me.'

Jake gave a weak smile which disappeared quickly as he mulled over the invitation. 'What do you want to know?'

Pete reached for the bottle and topped up the tumblers. 'The beginning is always a good place.'

Jake reached for his glass and chinked Pete's. 'Okay so let me tell you about Will.'

Pete staggered as he climbed out of the taxi, reaching into his pocket for money to pay. He pushed notes at the driver as he tried to straighten up but with everything spinning he decided to keep stooping as the world seemed easier to focus on near to the ground. Drinking half a bottle of whiskey had never been a good idea. Opening a second bottle in Jakes study had been a very poor decision….

As he reached the front door the light went on in the hall. The door was opened by a very angry Jules. 'Where have you been all night? Surely not with Jake? She stopped talking and stepped back to look at him. OMG are you drunk?'

He sloped past her heading for the stairs. 'I am drunk darling so wipe that look off your face and help me to bed. I have been on a mission and I think I have a plan.'

'You have a plan? Why am I suspicious of that and whats the plan for?'

'To get Laura and Jake back together of course.'

'Ah.'

He stopped on the stairs and looked down as Jules slowly closed the front door. Walking towards him she gave a sheepish look. 'She's gone I tried to stop her but, she said she was fed up of all of us. Needed to be on her own. Charlie is here though so that means she will come back at some point.'

Pete sank onto the stairs. 'This is not good, okay maybe its good. To be honest I've not got a clue my head is splitting. Need to lie down.'

He looked up at the stairs and crawled up reaching for the handrail to pull himself up at the top. He swung towards their bedroom crashing into the dresser on the landing as he went. As he fell onto the bed he pulled Jules towards him. 'No fifty shades tonight love.' He started snoring almost immediately and Jules pushed him away from her as she climbed back into bed. He could sleep in his clothes for all she cared. She was thinking of following Laura's lead and taking off on her own right now. Listening to the rampant snoring next to her it sounded like a great plan.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Laura woke early and decided that a walk would be a good thing. She walked slowly into the bathroom and looked at the bath with the shower over it. No way she was climbing into that today. She felt big and heavy catching sight of her reflection in the mirror she also looked tired not a good thing.

She had been staying in Primrose Cottage for a week now and the silence was beginning to deafen her. She had hoped the space and solitude would help but all it did was make her miss Jake and Charlie.

After a cup of tea and piece of toast she stepped outside into the morning sunshine. She saw someone walking down the lane as she turned onto it but they disappeared quickly from view. The air was cool against her bare arms and she wondered should she go back for a jacket? Deciding not to she kept walking her pace slow and measured. She felt tired everyday now. She rubbed her belly as she walked talking aloud to the baby telling her about the trees and surrounding countryside.

When she had told Jules she was going away for a few days Jules had made her promise to keep the phone on incase of emergency. Charlie had been non plussed by her disappearance and after his weekend with Anna she felt he had almost forgotten she was not around. Anna was still at Jakes so Ellie and Charlie had spent the weekend there.

Charlie had talked non stop about his new room and the fun they had had over the weekend. He'd said Jake seemed sad and was it because they weren't all together. She hadn't known how to answer so had changed the subject. She felt surplus to requirements he loved Anna so much and vice versa did anyone need her at all?

Reaching the end of the lane she turned to walk back and spotted a man in the distance. It could have been Jake she thought to herself as she watched him walk quickly out of view. Tall and walking with purpose. She looked around her listening for a sound. That was the thing with this village it was so quiet. She'd met a couple of the people who lived close by and judging by the way people looked at her she knew they wanted to know her story. They had looked at her in shock when she said she was on a holiday her baby bump fast becoming a talking point at the village shop when she'd been in.

She reached the cottage and sat down in the garden turning her face up the sun and closing her eyes. Tiredness washed over her, she needed Jake so much to massage her swollen ankles and tell her everything would be okay. But, right now she hadn't a clue what to do. This being alone business had given her the silence she craved but she was no closer to deciding her future than she had been a week ago. A tear trickled down her face as she sat there the hurt and confusion hitting her again like a wave.

She heard the mobile ringing knowing that it would be Jules and pushed open the back door reaching quickly for the phone.

'Good morning Jules.'

'It's me.'

Her breath caught her in her throat as she heard his voice. She closed her eyes picturing him in front of her. His brown eyes gazing down at her as his arms snaked around her waist to pull her close. His lips gently brushing over hers. His body solid as she rested against him safe and secure.

'Laura are you there?'

'I'm here.' Her voice no more than a whisper as she responded.

'Good.' She heard him sign and leaned her head against the door the coolness helping her focus.

'How are you, the baby?' His voice was husky he sounded tired, deflated. She felt the same but she was not about to tell him that. 'I'm fine Jake, she's fine and you?' She tried to sound distant and failed miserably her voice coming out in a squeaky whisper.

'I miss you. I miss waking up with you, going to sleep next to you. I miss everything about you.'

'Thats nice but you should've thought of that before you lied to me.'

'I never lied Laura. I may have withheld information and I'll never forgive myself for what I've put you through.'

Laura sat down on the bench in the garden. She had so much she wanted to say to him, she should be screaming, shouting but the words wouldn't come. She felt sadness, emptiness. She missed him too but she was not going to let him know.

'Right well I guess our definitions are somewhat different.' Was this really her speaking? She sounded cold and distant she didn't want to sound like that it was just coming out that way.

'Laura I know your angry with me and you have every right but we need to talk, when do you think the anger will go?'

'What? Are you being serious? This anger wont just go Jake do you have any idea what I'm going through trying to absorb that everything in my life is fantasy.'

She heard him sigh again.

'Sorry I didn't meant it like that. What I really want to say is when you are ready to talk I'm here. I know I've fucked up. But, please hear me out let me try and explain why I did what I did. I don't want to lose you Laura. This wasn't, isn't a fantasy.'

She was silent her eyes still closed as she listened to what he was saying. What did she want? What did she want to say to him? She heard him take a breath before he spoke again. 'Have I lost you Laura?'

She turned towards the door gazing across the fields in front of her, she should tell him to get lost she knew that. Why would she be interested in what he had to say. But despite everything she couldn't just turn the love off, she couldn't imagine life without him now but…. 'No you haven't but, Im not sure when I'll be ready to see you. I'm disappointed, I feel betrayed. I never expected this from you.'

'I know I'm sorry I never wanted it to go this far and I tried so many times to tell you but…'

'Jake you should've tried harder. I'm tired I don't want to talk anymore okay.'

'Okay. I'll let you go thank you for listening to me and not hanging up. I love you Laura. I know it probably means nothing to you right now but, I mean it. I want to fix this and I'll do whatever you want.'

'Thank you erm, bye Jake.'

She hit the end call button hearing his voice disappear as he said goodbye to her. She sat down on the bench in the garden the tears flowing thick and fast as she dropped the phone next to her. Although it was no consolation to her it helped in some way that he sounded as tormented as she was.

Her mobile rang again number unknown. Please be Jules she thought. She answered speaking quietly. 'Hello?'

'Mrs Laura Harrison?'

'Yes?'

'My names Dan King I work for the Daily Herald care to make a comment about trying to run your husband down when you stole his car last week.'

'What, what do you mean who are you?'

'Im a journalist love so do you want to give me your side of the story? I can make it worth your while. We'll pay a lot for a Harrison story. You'll probably need it with the kid an everything.'

'I, well, no bloody comment.' She hit the end call button and sank back on the bench. She was shaking. 'How did he get my number, how the hell, what now….' Laura stopped as she heard the bell of the front door and wearily stood up walking around the side of the cottage to see who was there.

As she rounded the corner she saw the flash of a camera and heard her name being called.

'Laura did he beat you?'

'Come on Laura just tell us what happened, when's the baby due?'

'Did he kick you out?'

She stood shell shocked unable to speak or move as another camera flash went off in front of her. There were 5/6 people in the garden shoving each other to take photos. Shouting at her, calling her name. She turned quickly not speaking and made for the back garden locking the gate behind her. She grabbed the phone and slammed the kitchen door shut before she went into the hallway.

She couldn't stay downstairs they were knocking at the windows and the front door shouting her name. What should she do? As she reached the top of the staircase she sat down not wanting to be near a window. They weren't going away and were banging on the door now.

She looked at her phone there was only one person she could call and she knew it. She rang his number but he didn't answer. Where was he? Now when she needed him he wasn't there…. Jules, she'd know what to do. She hastily found the number.

'It's me you need to get here quickly there are journalists outside I think they might break the door down.' She began crying as she heard someone shout through the letterbox. 'Hurry please.'